Disclaimer: For those of you with more depraved tendencies, this has 100% NO vore in it, at all. Never will, never was planned to. Sorry, run along to other things.

I want to thank InsomniacFox, Midlou, ARK, Dakzoo, Liar, Niko, Sally, Spelter, Rynadine and all my other pals on ZAA for all of their help and support while writing this story. You guys have made fanfic fun for me again, and I'm forever grateful.

Also big thanks to Giftheck for this story's cover art.

Nick's face flushed as his belly gurgled again. He didn't want to tell Judy about what he needed to do, but he didn't see any way around it. The pair walked out of the ZPD headquarters, having just finished their shift.

Judy grinned at Nick. "Sounds like someone's hungry, eh Slick?" she teased, but her smile turned into confusion as Nick didn't reply. "Hey, what's the matter? Are you feeling alright, Nick?"

The fox was touched by the concern in Judy's voice. "Yeah, it's just…I have something to tell you," he began. Judy's brow furrowed, and she gestured for him to go on. "I…I need more protein," Nick explained. "I haven't been getting enough of it lately."

Judy's face fell even further as she processed his words. "Oh," she said quietly. "So, that means that you'll have to…"

"Eat meat, yeah," sighed Nick. "I really am sorry, Carrots. I wouldn't do it if I had a choice, but right now I don't."

"It's okay Nick, I understand," Judy replied. "Do you want to go somewhere that can get you protein, or just buy some meat and go out another night?"

Nick sighed. He didn't want to gross Judy out, but he didn't have much of a choice. He resolved to find a way to make it up to her. "Tell you what," he said, "if we go somewhere that serves meat tonight, then we can go wherever you want tomorrow night. My treat, okay?"

Judy nodded. She knew that Nick felt self conscious about eating meat around her, and she wished that there was some way to make him feel better. She always resolved to completely ignore the meat anytime Nick was eating it. If she didn't acknowledge it then it would be like it wasn't there. That smell, though…Judy visibly shuddered. The smell was easily the worst part of it all, and it wasn't like she could just stop smelling it.

Nick noticed Judy's discomfort, and felt a pang of guilt hit him. He knew he shouldn't have made her do this. The fox started to say so, but Judy cut him off.

"It's fine Nick, really. Now, let's go get some food, alright?" Nick reluctantly followed Judy as they walked towards the nearest restaurant.

The meal passed in an awkward silence. Nick tried to eat as quickly as possible, while Judy focused on eating her salad and ignoring the cicada burger on Nick's plate. Try as she might, though, Judy just couldn't ignore the smell. There was no way to avoid it, and she grew increasingly frustrated. The whole thing wouldn't be a problem if she wasn't so easily nauseated. There were times where Judy just wished that she ate the same things as Nick, so they could avoid situations like this. That was impossible, though. She paid enough attention in school to know that there simply wasn't any way for a rabbit to eat any sort of meat, even if they wanted to.

Judy looked over the table at Nick and made eye contact with him. He gave her a weak attempt at a smile, averted his eyes, and went back to eating. Judy sighed. She reminded herself of who she was with, and why she was even here in the first place. She would tolerate any amount of meat for Nick. She wanted to spend time with him, even if it meant she had to make a sacrifice.

Once Nick had finished eating, without saying a word, he paid for both meals, and then walked out the door. Judy ran after him, concerned. "Hey, I'm sorry," she said "I…just…the smell…"

"I'm the sorry one, Fluff," Nick said solemnly. "I don't want you to have to go through stuff like that every time I have to eat meat." Judy kicked herself mentally as she noticed his face falling even further.

"Look, Nick, it's not your fault," she insisted. "It's me. I just need to stop being so squeamish. I'll get used to it, just give me some time."

Nick felt a swell of appreciation as he looked at Judy. "Thanks, Carrots," he said with a smile. "That really means a lot to me."

Judy nodded and gave Nick a hug. They went their separate ways and Judy felt a bit better. This wasn't going to be easy on her, but Nick was worth it. It would just take a bit of time. After all, it wasn't like her distaste for meat would just magically disappear overnight, right?

Judy entered her apartment and placed her cellphone on her desk before changing out of her uniform into her nightgown. Tomorrow would be her and Nick's one day off together that week, and she looked forward to spending it with him. As she prepared to settle in for the night, her phone suddenly began to ring. Upon picking it up, she saw a number on screen she didn't recognize.

That's weird, she thought. Who could be calling me at this hour?

She answered the phone. "Hello?" There was a brief moment of silence before a response came.

"…Good evening, Judy." The voice on the other end spoke quietly and in a foreboding tone that raised Judy's hackles.

"Erm…good evening?" she replied. "Who is this?"

"Someone who can give you your heart's desire," said the voice.

Judy was puzzled. "What are you talking about?" she asked.

"I'm talking about your wish, Judy," replied the voice. "You do have a wish, don't you?"

Judy shook her head. "Look, I don't know who you are or how you got my number, but if this is some kind of joke it isn't funny," she said firmly. "If you call me again I may have to report you for-"

The voice cut her off. "What about your desire to eat meat?" it said.

Judy's heart skipped a beat. "E-excuse me?"

"That is your wish, isn't it? To eat meat?" the voice continued. "Like your fox friend…Nick?"

Judy nearly jumped at the mention of her partner's name. "How do you know-?!" She stopped herself short, then chuckled nervously. "Okay, I see what's going on," she said. "You're one of Nick's old hustling buddies, aren't you? Did he put you up to this just to prank me?"

"Oh, but this is no prank, officer," said the voice. "I'm as real as can be. Nick isn't even aware of my existence. No one is."

Judy felt her nose begin to twitch as she grew more anxious. "Who are you?"

"I am the one who grants wishes," the voice replied. "There isn't a wish anyone has ever made that I'm not aware of. Every once in a while, I choose a certain special mammal and reveal myself to grant them exactly one wish. The wish that they feel most strongly about at that very moment." There was a pause. "…and tonight, Judy, is your lucky night."

"Then why don't I feel lucky?" muttered Judy. "So, what? Are you gonna do some kinda voodoo magic or something and make me able to eat meat?" she snarked. "I don't know who you think you are, but the simple fact of the matter is that bunnies just aren't built to eat meat like predators. It's just the way we are."

"I think you'll find I'm more than capable of granting your wish," the voice replied. "No matter how impossible it may seem."

Somehow I doubt that, Judy thought.

"But I must warn you," the voice went on, "any wish granted can have unforeseen side effects. Are you willing to take such a risk to have your wish granted?"

Judy was fed up by this point. "Yeah, yeah, fine," she said sharply. "Go ahead, Mister 'Wish-Granter.' I wish I could eat meat! There, I said it! Now make it happen! I'd love to see you try!"

There was a long silence after this. Judy stood waiting impatiently for a response. "Hello?" she said at last. "Hello?"

She then heard the sound of the phone disconnecting. She looked back at the screen to see the unfamiliar number once more. She immediately tried to dial the number back to see what happened.

She waited several moments as the phone tried to patch through, before she was finally answered by a pre-recorded message. "We're sorry, you have reached a number that has been disconnected or is no longer in service. If you feel you have reached this recording in error, please check the number and try your call again."

Judy hung up and stared at the phone screen again, baffled. She attempted to dial the number a few more times, but got the same results. "How in the-?"

Suddenly, Judy began to feel lightheaded. She quickly placed the phone down and gripped the desk, struggling to stand. The room began to spin, her stomach started to turn, her vision blurred and she felt faint.

She turned around and stumbled for a moment before collapsing onto her bed as everything went black.